Joint for wheel suspension devices



Sept. 30, 1941. F. E, MAIER JOINT FOR WHEEL SUSPENSION DEVICES Original Filed Nov. 2'?, 1955 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JOINT FOR WHEEL SUSPENSION DEVICES Friedrich Eugen Maier, Berlin-Charlottenburg, Germany Original application November 27, 1935, Serial No. 51,820. Divided and this application May 6,

1940, Serial No. 29, 1935 1 Claim.

a detachable connection between the telescopic device and the tubular axle member of the vehicle. l

With these objects in view, the telescopic device is provided with a transverse tubular member and a similar tubular member or axle member is arranged on the vehicle or extends transversely through the vehicle. The two tubular members are swingably and detachably connected by a threaded. ring adapted to be screwed on one of said members and to engage by means of an inner ange behind an outer iiange of the opposite member, and the adjacent faces of the two tubular members are toothed for mutual engagement.

By swinging the telescopic wheel suspension device about the axis of the transverse members it is possible to adjust the forward setting of the wheel suspension, i. e. the angle between thevertical and the axis of the wheel suspension, or in other words, the angle by which the axis oi the wheel suspension is forwardly inclined towards the road, and to lock the wheel suspension in position.

The telescopic device comprises an upper guiding cylinder and a lower tubular guiding member 31 seated at its lower end in a sleeve 4 which is fixedly secured to an axle tree box 2. The axle 3 is supported in the axle tree box 2 and carries a wheel The guiding cylinder is surrounded by a sleeve 43 to which a transverse tubular member 4| is connected by welding. The end` of a tubular axle 6 forming part of the chassis of the vehicle (not shown) can be connected to the tubular member 4| by a threaded ring 42 engaging by means of an inner iiange behind an outer flange on the tubular axle member 6. The parts 6 and 4| are secured against rotation or swinging with respect to each other by engagement of their toothed portions 46 formed on the adjacent surfaces of the two parts. said toothed surfaces are very small so that the whole telescopic device can be swung about the axis of the tube 6 on release of the threaded ring 42, whereby it is possible to adjust the above mentioned forward setting of the wheel The teeth of` 333,689. In Germany August (Cl. 28o-96.2)

suspension in the desired manner and to lock the parts in the adjusted position by interengagement of their toothed portions 46.

The details of the parts shown in the drawf ing have been described fully in my above mentioned Patent No. 2,220,254 so that it will not be required to discuss said details here.

Compared to simple connections comprising tubular sleeves my novel connection offers the advantage that it permits accurate adjustment. Moreover, the strength is higher, since the tube ends which are held together by the threaded ring 42 engage each other under pressure. The known joints comprising tubular sleeves also have the drawback that they are not accurately ad- .iustable and moreover are unfavourable 'as to their mechanical strength, more particularly with respect to bending stresses at the joint.

Joints comprising solid axle stubs and cross pins are not suiiciently strong, compared to my novel joint, with respect to torsional stress. The

joint is torsionally stressed in accordance with the variable distance of the vehicle from the road and the changing acceleration and retardation of the craft, with a lever arm corresponding to the distance of the parts from the road. Such stresses, on the other hand, are safely taken up by my novel joint since notching eifects and the like are prevented.

Moreover, none of the known joints can be regarded as an easily detachable joint and my novel joint is lighter in weight.

The method and apparatus of the present invention have been described in detail with reference to a specific embodiment. It is to be un-` derstood, however, that the invention is not limited by such specific reference but is broader in scope and capable of other embodiments than that specifically described and illustrated in the drawing.

I claim:

Independent wheel suspension, comprising a telescopic guide system for the springing motion of the suspension, said system including a tubular member extending transversely on said telescopic system, a tubular axle member forming part of the chassis of the vehicle, one of said members being screw threaded, a threaded ring screwed on said screw threaded members, said ring having an inner iiange portion engaging behind an outer ange portion of the opposite member, for detachably connecting said members together, the adjacent faces of said tubular members being toothed for mutual engagement, whereby the telescopic guide system can be swung with respect to saidtubular axle member by releasing said threaded ring and locked in position by tightening said ring.

FRIEDRICH E'UGEN MAIER. 

